Maha Kumbh through the lens | India News
NEW DELHI: “What does divinity look like when it takes human form?” The question sparked a journey that culminated with the launch of ‘Expressions of Divinity Maha Kumbh 2025’, a coffee table book by author and photographer Meenakshi Singh. The book, published by Bloomsbury Publishing India, was unveiled on Friday at India Habitat Centre.
Image credit: Vinod Kumar
The book explores sacred sites such as Akshayavat, Patalpuri, Mankameshwar, Alopi Devi, Nag Vasuki, and captures the unparalleled experience of millions taking a holy dip at the Sangam, where Ganga,Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati unite in a cosmic confluence. Through its pages, divinity is portrayed not as abstraction but as humanity itself in the courage of Naga Sadhus, the humility of pilgrims, and the strength of boatmen.
Images courtesy of Menakshi Singh
Speaking at the launch, Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath, who presided as Chief Guest, praised the book as “a cultural document of enduring significance,” emphasising that the Maha Kumbhrepresents not merely a ritual gathering but a civilizational continuity spanning millennia, uniting people across language, region, age, and faith. He noted that the author has captured the Mahakumbh not as spectacle,but as a deeply human and spiritual experience celebrating the inner journey of seekers, the quiet power of collective faith, and the emotional architecture of devotion.Others present on the occasion included Rajeev Krishna, Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh and Alok Sharma, IPS, Director, SPG.Meenakshi Singh, a former IRS officer, is also a dedicated environmentalist and advocate for women’s and children’s empowerment. Photography is her creative passion — her first exhibition, ‘Taj Mahal: Through the Twilights of Time,’ captured themonument’s ever-changing moods.
